PENANG is monitoring this weekend's Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) annual travel fair to determine if the domestic market is buoyant enough to help the state withstand an anticipated shortfall in foreign tourists.
State Executive Councillor Wong Hon Wai, who oversees the state tourism portfolio, sees the fair at the newly opened Penang Waterfront Convention Centre (PWCC) as a stimulus to arrest the temporary drop in inbound tourism due to the Iranian war.
He acknowledged there is a slowdown in terms of direct flights and foreign tourist arrivals since the war broke out in the Middle East two months ago.
The notable shortfalls came from the European and Arabic outbound markets, although Penang could be insulated in a sense that business travellers are making a beeline to Asia following the relocation of their meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE) sector to the region due to the war in the Middle East.
Wong and the Penang Convention Exhibition Bureau (PCEB) have grown MICE to become a major inbound segment for tourism here, with record-level events and the number of delegates or participants coming.
Over 50,000 visitors are expected to throng the MATTA travel fair from tomorrow until Sunday, although some industry experts predict that domestic travellers are often seeking bargains for overseas expeditions rather than domestic ones.
Wong said this year’s edition is shaping up to be one of the largest yet, featuring over 300 booths and an extensive showcase of both domestic and international travel offerings.
“Visitors can look forward to irresistible travel deals, exclusive fair-only promotions, and strong participation from key industry players across the tourism sector. More importantly, the fair plays a vital role in stimulating travel demand and inspiring Malaysians to rediscover the joy of travel whether exploring hidden gems at home or venturing abroad,” he told a press conference.
Present were MATTA Penang chapter chairperson Carolyn Leong and Penang Global Tourism (PGT) chief executive officer Ooi Chok Yan.
Earlier in an interview, Wong revealed that Penang is regarded as a major regional tourism destination when the state secured 12 direct flight routes in the past two years, namely from the present two biggest markets - China and India.
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He is now exploring more ties with Japan and South Korea in view that the Middle East region may be reeling from the war effects.
The direct flights trigger potentials for Penang to tap, not just from tourism but from properties, small and medium enterprises, direct investments and education.
Wong said to underpin the effort, Penang is also actively looking at boosting its marketing presence through digitalisation, such as social media and videos.
Among the latest airliners to fly direct to Penang from China are Chongqing and Qingdao Airliners to complement Juneyao which flew in early this year.
He added that the Penang International Airport has also upgraded its immigration processing facilities with more automatic gates installed.
Penang recorded 8.3 million airline passengers last year, making it the second busiest airport here after the main hub of the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA). - April 24, 2026.
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